Jump Roping @#$@#%

I've gotten out the Ultra Speed cable jump rope which I bought in 2011 and am learning to use it. One thing I notice is perhaps because of lack of use, the cable has a lot of memory and often forms tangles. I know some of my difficulties come from learning a new skill, but when the rope tangles up it effectively shortens and ends up caught by one of my feet.

Is this normal or perhaps related to how I'm using my wrists/shoulders? Is there a way to get the cables to lay flat? I've tried stepping and stretching out the handles multiple times?

2. When not using your jump rope always hang it. A simple nail in a wall or door frame.

HTH

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I'm pretty decent at it having done years of boxing and wallabee is 100% correct. I've had a Buddy Lee for lord, 6 years now? If you really want to train this skill, you need a rope which isn't just some poly strung between two handles. The problem you have is because your cable is simply too thick and it retains its memory. Two things fix this: storing it from the cable with the handles down, or speeding up your pace. Since you're starting, begin storing the cable with the handles hanging instead of with the rope wrapped around them.

Seriously, go to your local home improvement store. They usually have reels with different lengths and thickness of rope. I have a couple different thicknesses - use a thicker one if you want to work the arms. If you get real rope, ask them to tie off the ends. If you get "plastic" rope, burn the ends to prevent fraying. Real top works best - doesn't tangle easy and it's cheap.

Also, a very important note on technique. Many people find rope skipping hard and tiring because they use their arms to turn the rope. You need to start the rope moving before you start jumping to build its momentum, and then once you start jumping, ONLY your wrists turn the rope to keep it going round. Your shoulders should never be sore. Also by not turning with your wrists, you naturally tense up your shoulders and chest which brings the rope higher off the ground and leads to more misses.

Thanks for the advice. I've been storing the rope on a coat hanger and it's losing the tangles. Still working on technique... I can jump for a minute or two but this is with double bounces. I am told that jump rope is actually less stressful on your knees than running because your impact is mostly on the forefoot and ideally you're not more than two or three inches off the ground. I'm only doing this a few minutes a day though to allow my feet and joints accustom to the shock.

I never did this as a kid, but compared to running, this feels fun. I can only imagine how much better when I can do this w/ music and for 10-15 minutes at a stretch.

Back in my best hockey shape I could jump rope for 1hr straight without hitting the rope once. My all time record was 2hrs and 2 mins. I only hit the rope twice in the last hr. My hr was only in the 130's. I would jump for 1hr before my tennis matches games to get loose. The trick is just jump high enuff the clear the thickness of the rope. When my rope wore out I made my own from a metal wire coated with plastic. My rope was short when stepping on the rope the handles came up to my hip bone. Never tried a leather speed rope or a heavy rope. I did my jumping not for cardio but for footwork.

Back in my best hockey shape I could jump rope for 1hr straight without hitting the rope once. My all time record was 2hrs and 2 mins. I only hit the rope twice in the last hr. My hr was only in the 130's. I would jump for 1hr before my tennis matches games to get loose. The trick is just jump high enuff the clear the thickness of the rope. When my rope wore out I made my own from a metal wire coated with plastic. My rope was short when stepping on the rope the handles came up to my hip bone. Never tried a leather speed rope or a heavy rope. I did my jumping not for cardio but for footwork.

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The rule of thumb is that if you step on the rope and hold the handles together, they should reach to your armpit. There is no way you could jump while standing upright or not jumping and tucking.

The rule of thumb is that if you step on the rope and hold the handles together, they should reach to your armpit. There is no way you could jump while standing upright or not jumping and tucking.

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Never heard of that rule. I just found that length worked for me. Remember hockey players always keep their knees bend and I do bend a little but not that much. I have not jumped since 2000. Dam armpit height that would be way to long for me to control. I jumped rope for twenty years so I got pretty good at making my own rope, length and style. I jump like boxers do but my rope is way to short to ever cross it. My rope rpm was at 120-130 if I remember right.

Never heard of that rule. I just found that length worked for me. Remember hockey players always keep their knees bend and I do bend a little but not that much. I have not jumped since 2000. Dam armpit height that would be way to long for me to control. I jumped rope for twenty years so I got pretty good at making my own rope, length and style. I jump like boxers do but my rope is way to short to ever cross it. My rope rpm was at 120-130 if I remember right.

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That would be super awkward. Rope is way too short. You must have long legs... For it to even remotely be possible.

Never heard of that rule. I just found that length worked for me. Remember hockey players always keep their knees bend and I do bend a little but not that much. I have not jumped since 2000. Dam armpit height that would be way to long for me to control. I jumped rope for twenty years so I got pretty good at making my own rope, length and style. I jump like boxers do but my rope is way to short to ever cross it. My rope rpm was at 120-130 if I remember right.

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I'm 5'10 or so, and that equates to a rope slightly shorter than the standard 9ft speed rope. At the same time, I've been doing this for a while so I don't need that same amount of clearance. Regardless, having it 3feet shorter (18" from hip to armpit on both sides) would be impossible. You need this length to get a proper turning. As I was a boxer, I obviously jump like boxers do, and there's no way anything shorter could be used for a boxing rope workout.

How to Size a Jump Rope Tip #1 Take jump rope in either hand and step on the center of the rope with both feet together.

How to Size a Jump Rope Tip #2 Pull the jump rope handles up and towards your arm pits.

How to Size a Jump Rope Tip #3 – The edge of the jump rope should come up to the base of your arm pits. If the handles dont reach your arm pits you need a longer rope. If the handles are up by your shoulders – you need a shorter rope.

To determine the exact length for an individual, stand on the center of the cord.

The handle tips should reach your armpits. When you jump over the rope, the rope should just brush the floor beneath your feet. If the cord doesn't touch the floor, the rope is too short. If the cord hits the floor in front of your feet, the rope is too long and should be shortened. More advanced users will usually need a shorter rope than those indicated on the chart.

As I was a boxer, I obviously jump like boxers do, and there's no way anything shorter could be used for a boxing rope workout.

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I'd like to learn how to jump rope using a boxer's footwork patterns. Do you
know of any videos that show you how to do it? I think it might be called
the boxer's step, but I couldn't find a tutorial on it. Don't really know how
to describe it, there is some sort of stepping pattern that is repeated.

Honestly, just start with a single jump and get that down. Once you can do that, get running in place down (single foot per turn). Once you can do both of those, watch some boxing videos for random things they do and try to copy them. That's exactly how I was taught way back when (at least to me, 9 years is a long time ).

I'm 5'10 or so, and that equates to a rope slightly shorter than the standard 9ft speed rope. At the same time, I've been doing this for a while so I don't need that same amount of clearance. Regardless, having it 3feet shorter (18" from hip to armpit on both sides) would be impossible. You need this length to get a proper turning. As I was a boxer, I obviously jump like boxers do, and there's no way anything shorter could be used for a boxing rope workout.

Dude, I don't know what to tell u only that my rope length worked for me for 20 years. Over that time I made adjustments until I got the perfect length for me. I was able jump for 1hr straight without missing the rope. Most times I might hit the rope 2-3 times in an hour if I mess up. I done 2hrs 2 mins only hitting the rope like twice. First off crossfit is a joke. the 2nd link said advanced users will usually need a shorter rope than those indicated on the chart.

The size chart and the individual method are general...optimum rope length ideally depends on how high you hold your arms as you turn the rope with your wrist, thus check where it hits the floor and make any minor adjustments.

Dude, I don't know what to tell u only that my rope length worked for me for 20 years. Over that time I made adjustments until I got the perfect length for me. I was able jump for 1hr straight without missing the rope. Most times I might hit the rope 2-3 times in an hour if I mess up. I done 2hrs 2 mins only hitting the rope like twice. First off crossfit is a joke. the 2nd link said advanced users will usually need a shorter rope than those indicated on the chart.

The size chart and the individual method are general...optimum rope length ideally depends on how high you hold your arms as you turn the rope with your wrist, thus check where it hits the floor and make any minor adjustments.

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The reason more advanced users need a shorter rope is because you're less likely to hold your arms higher, so you need a rope that turns more quickly based on your faster rhythm. That shorter rope is by about a foot, tops. I'm just unable to imagine jumping rope with something that has to be about 5-6ft long since we're exactly the same height.

The reason more advanced users need a shorter rope is because you're less likely to hold your arms higher, so you need a rope that turns more quickly based on your faster rhythm. That shorter rope is by about a foot, tops. I'm just unable to imagine jumping rope with something that has to be about 5-6ft long since we're exactly the same height.

Honestly, just start with a single jump and get that down. Once you can do that, get running in place down (single foot per turn). Once you can do both of those, watch some boxing videos for random things they do and try to copy them. That's exactly how I was taught way back when (at least to me, 9 years is a long time ).

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This sounds simple but it is very good and true advice. I've managed to become comfortable w/ single jumps whereas previously I was double hopping between swings.

Someone was watching me and gave me a tip recently; they said I was jumping higher than I needed to clear the rope! So now I'm working on lowering the hop and notice that it's a lot less stress on the calves. Hopefully once I get this timing down I'll be able to start working one one foot jumproping and then jogging in place...

I also started jump roping hoping to improve my split steps; as I'm lowering my hops w/ the rope, I wonder if the split steps should be lower to the ground?